[Otto69]

As a kid I had a model of a simple satellite. I think it was made by Hawk, and it featured a hex body, with two arms that came off with solar panels or something. The unique feature of this kit is that it used the old coin & forks trick with a counterweight to allow it to balance on its display stand.

I've been watching Ebay for this a long time with no luck. Don't tell me, it's ultra rare and expensive? If not, any idea what the name of the kit is so I can continue searching? Are there any good Hawk fan sites?

Thanks in advance,

 

[Carson Dyle]

I believe you're referring to the "Project Vanguard Satellite" (Hawk, 1958).

 

[Otto69]

Nope, the Vanguard is a sphere with antennas, ala

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5913532834&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

What the kit I'm thinking of was just a thick body, hexagonal in cross section, with a pole down the axis and a ball at the end of it, with two arms that came off the base. I think the paintscheme was some sort of two tone black and white decal on the base and ball...

 

[Otto69]

Aha!

I found a vague reference to the kit with some crummy box art showing it in a drawing http://www.smallspace.demon.co.uk/Space_Models/cs_update.htm

Judging from the text this was indeed a Hawk kit...I just can't find it anywhere.

 

[Just Plain Al]

OK, I name it George

 

[Andrew Gorman]

It has to be the Hawk "Explorer 18" :
http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/kitplans/hawk553.html
It's a pretty simple and (Gasp!) innacurate kit, since it's at least one solar panel short. They show upon eBay occasionally, and I don't remember them ever going too high. You could scratchbuild a much nicer one yourself.
Andrew

 

[Otto69]

Andrew, thanks for posting that! That's the model. Now I can start an ebay search since I have the name. True, I could scratchbuild one, but it's more the nostalgia of building the kit again I'm after than accuracy .

 

[John P]

Good lord, I remember my Dad heating up the antennae with a match and jamming them into the plastic for me!

 

[Barry Yoner]

I still have mine!! Much worse for wear but I think it's still more or less intact.

And I heated up those antenna and jammed those in myself, John!